Android boss says Google is still “very committed” to Chrome OS
Chrome OS may be absorbed into Android at some point, but Google is not ready to talk about its demise just yet.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Google will “fold” Chrome OS into Android by 2017. That’s due to the prevalence of Android over the capable, but largely unpopular cloud-centric model of Chrome OS, according to the people familiar with the matter. The dual approach of Android on phones and Chrome OS on PCs is “no longer relevant to Google,” the story goes.
In the hours after the WSJ story was published, The Verge and Recode both independently confirmed the information. We will reportedly get our first look at the Android-Chrome OS hybrid at Google I/O next year.
According to Recode, Chrome OS and Chromebooks won’t be going away, at least not right away. Google’s partners will still get to use Chrome OS for their laptops, which have proven a hit in schools and enterprise. But laptops makers will also be able to choose Android for their products.
Hiroshi Lockheimer, the newly anointed head of Android and Chrome, took to Twitter to reassure Chrome OS fans that the operating system will live on, in one form or another.
There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!
— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) October 30, 2015
We can’t expect Lockheimer to fess up on Google’s long-term plans. And, small as the Chrome OS ecosystem may be, Google still needs to reassure users, developers, and partners that they are not investing in a dead platform.
Lockheimer’s tweet, however, can be taken as a sign that Chrome OS will live on in some form, even if it’s just functionality integrated into Android.
It will definitely be a very interesting 12-24 months in the world of Android. After tackling wearables, TVs, and autos, Google seems ready to make Android a real computer operating system. It definitely won’t be easy, and Android will need a massive revamp in order to make it truly PC-friendly. But the horizon opened by this expansion is wide open.
Google makes it easier than ever to capture and share your favorite gaming moments
Google announced a new way to share your favorite gaming moments using the Google Play Games app. Now when you open the Google Play Games app, you can select the game you want to play and simply hit the record button to capture gameplay in either 720p or 480p resolution. You can also add video of yourself with commentary using your device’s front facing camera and microphone. To ensure you don’t upload anything embarrassing, you can edit the video before uploading to YouTube.
I’m a troll in nature, so I would most likely use it to record myself playing Boom Beach while talking a little smack to my friends. I’m sure most of you would use it for tutorials or possibly even recording a funny moment in a video game to share with your friends.
Expect gameplay recording to roll out over the next few days to users in the US and UK with other countries soon after.
The post Google makes it easier than ever to capture and share your favorite gaming moments appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple Releases ‘Beats Pill+’ App for Controlling Beats Pill+ Speaker on iOS and Android
Apple today debuted a new Beats Pill+ app for both iOS and Android users, providing a way for those who own the new Beats Pill+ speakers to control the speakers, check power levels, download software updates, adjust sound levels, and link multiple speakers together for different effects. There are three modes in the app, listed below.
DJ – Grab a friend and control the music from two Bluetooth(R) sources.
Amplify – Add a second Beats Pill+ into the mix and simultaneously play from both for a sound that’s twice as full.
Stereo – Use two Beats Pill+ speakers as left and right output for an even more dynamic sound experience.
Beats Pill+ marks the first time Apple has released an app on both the iOS and Android platforms simultaneously, and it’s the second Android app that Apple has debuted after introducing the Move to iOS app earlier this year. Apple plans to introduce additional Android apps in the future, including an Apple Music app.
The new Beats Pill+ app comes just over three weeks after Apple debuted its new Beats Pill+ speakers. The Beats Pill+ is a wireless Bluetooth speaker that’s the first Apple has introduced since purchasing the Beats brand in May of 2014. Priced at $229, the speaker is now available in black or white from the Apple Online Store.
Beats Pill+ for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Beats Pill+ for Android can be downloaded from Google Play for free. [Direct Link]
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Android and Chrome OS may be combined as early as next year
For years, people have wondered if Google would merge its Android and Chrome operating systems, and the company has steadfastly held to them important but distinct pieces of its strategy. That might be changing: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google has been working for two years to merge Chrome OS and Android. The results of that unified operating system is expected to be officially released to the public in 2017, but we may see an early version as soon as next year.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Google Keep welcomes your pretty drawings on Android
Google’s Keep note-taking app has improved drastically since its release in 2013, thanks to features like labeled to-do lists being added over time. It’s also now available for iOS, which opened the gates to the large audience of people who own Apple devices and use Google cloud services. Now, the search company is adding support for drawings to the Android version of Keep, letting you start dropping in doodles to any of your notes. It’s a nice addition to an application that’s useful as it stands; when you consider that it supports audio, photo and text notes, as well as lists, drawings was arguably the only feature missing. The update via Google Play is said to be rolling out already, but you can grab the APK here (courtesy of Android Police) if you don’t feel like waiting.
Via: The Verge
Source: Android Police
‘Titanfall’ is going mobile
Titanfall, the mech-based multiplayer shooter from the creators of Call of Duty, will land on iOS and Android in some form in 2016. Titanfall studio Respawn Entertainment has partnered with free-to-play publisher Nexon and mobile developer Particle City in a multi-year, multi-game deal. There are no details about the mechanics or style of the coming Titanfall mobile games, but considering Nexon’s involvement, it’s a good bet that they’ll be free with in-app payments. “Nexon’s unrivaled publishing network and free-to-play expertise will allow Titanfall to reach new global audiences. And with Particle City, we are closely collaborating to create all-new standalone games with original gameplay experiences that expand the Titanfall universe to players everywhere,” Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella says in a press release.
Microsoft’s first Android launcher focuses on your favorites
Microsoft has already courted Android fans by releasing a lock screen, but it’s taking the relationship one step further by introducing a full-fledged launcher. The newly official (if already expected) Arrow Launcher is a purposefully simple interface that centers on your favorites. Your home screens include both everything you’ve used recently as well as your most commonly-accessed apps and contacts — it’s a bit like iOS 9’s Proactive feature writ large. You also get a tray for quick access to key apps and settings (see above), not to mention tightly integrated reminders. This is one of Microsoft’s numerous Garage experiments, so it’s tough to know how much long-term support it’ll get. Still, it’s worth trying if you’ve ever wished that Microsoft would make an Android phone beyond the short-lived Nokia X.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google Play, Microsoft Garage
Deal: Learn-by-Example Android Developer Course lifetime subscription only $19
Want to learn how to make Android apps? We know it can be an intimidating challenge, but nowadays there are so many tools out there to make the learning process easier. And some of us are better at learning visually, hence people pay thousands of dollars and spend years in school. Today’s AA Deals Store offer helps you polish your Android developing skills with only $19, though. This happens to be a 90% discount over the suggested $199 price point.
Here’s how the system works: the Learn-by-Example Android Developer Course consists of 59 lectures and over 11 hours of content.
Students will build 10 Android apps in the process, as well as learn about all the technologies and APIs needed for making a proper application. Among these apps there will be a news reader, a navigation app, a YouTube app and more. Furthermore, you will gain experience in using Android Studio and Eclipse ADT.
The only caveat is you will need to have some knowledge of Java and Android. In a way, you have to have an intermediate level of development experience, but if you have that covered taking on the course will be a breeze. And those who complete the course will even get a certificate to corroborate their skill level.
So what are you waiting for? Embark on this journey and make your developing dreams come true. This could even be the beginning of a brand new career! And for $19, this deal is a total winner.
Hands-on with the smaller, cheaper OnePlus X
From the moment you pick up the OnePlus X, it’s hard not to think about the iPhones of yesteryear. There’s no denying it: there’s a whiff of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 to this new handset. But that’s not necessarily a criticism. It’s been a while since those phones were Apple’s crème de la crème, and there’s a certain sophistication to the X’s glass back and rounded corners. Turning it over in my hands, it certainly doesn’t feel like a $249 phone. OnePlus has paid attention to the details: the metal frame, for instance, has 17 “micro-cuts” to make it a little grippier. The alert slider, which lets you switch between three notification profiles, has a different finish so you can find it in your pocket without looking.Slideshow-336543
Meet the $249 OnePlus X
With its first two phones, OnePlus proved that it could deliver flagship-level devices at a cheaper price-point than most of its rivals. Neither were exactly design duds, but for its third handset — and the second to be unwrapped in 2015 — OnePlus is focusing on style in particular. It’s called the OnePlus X and yes, it has a hint of both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 about it. There are two models: the $249/£199 Onyx, which sports a sheet of black glass on the back, and a £269 Ceramic version, which won’t be available in the US. In fact, OnePlus is only making 10,000 Ceramic handsets full-stop, so you’ll have to be quick if you want one of the company’s lucrative invites. Yep, you read that correctly. Once again, OnePlus will be using an invite system to carefully manage customer demand and shipments.
AIVAnet 